About

What started out as an idea by Wally Thurow in 1956 to offer something creative for the students of Sycamore has grown from a neighborhood display on his front yard into the town’s biggest city-wide event, beginning on Wednesday with the Opening Ceremony and cake cutting and concluding on Sunday afternoon with a parade.

The festival has over 1000 entries in the Lions Club Decorated Pumpkin Display, two carnivals, many not-for-profit vendors, three indoor craft shows, Saturday entertainment, and various activities, and it concludes on Sunday with a 90-minute  parade.  

Our History

Back in 1956, Wally Thurow, who is known as Sycamore’s “Mr. Pumpkin,” began what was to become the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival when he displayed a few decorated pumpkins on his front lawn to turn Halloween into a time of fun and creativity. In 1962, through the efforts of Mr. Pumpkin and the Sycamore Lions Club, the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival became an official celebration in Sycamore.

Every year, the Pumpkin Festival unites more than 30 DeKalb County not-for-profit groups, working to provide a weekend of Halloween fun for all. The Courthouse lawn is the center of activities, including thousands of decorated pumpkins on display, there are also art and craft shows, a house walk, a pie eating contest, a carnival, a fun fair, a race, and other events. The festival is concludes with a giant parade on Sunday afternoon.

Our Mission

The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival is a community celebration, showcasing our local not-for-profit organizations.

Our Purpose

The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Committee is responsible for coordinating the annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival, a family-oriented festival, to be held in the fall of each year. The festival promotes awareness of the City of Sycamore and provides and opportunity for DeKalb County not-for-profit organizations to participate in fund raising activities, community education, and enrichment.

sycamorepumpkinfestival

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A community celebration, showcasing our local not-for-profits

2025 Pumpkin Parade Award Winners

Best of Parade
Communities by Grainger

Best Use of Theme
Ideal Industries, Inc.

Wally Thurow Crowd Pleaser Award
Children’s Community Theater

Organization Awards
1st Place – Dimensions Dance Academy
2nd Place – Tails Humane Society
3rd Place – DeKalb County Marines #847

Non-Commercial Awards
1st Place – Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County
2nd Place – United Methodist Church of Sycamore
3rd Place – St John’s Lutheran Church

Neighborhood/Family Awards
1st Place – Barbed Wire Jeeps
2nd Place – Sycamore Pumpkin Chuckin’ Trebuchet

Commercial Awards
1st Place – PBK Mechanical Services LLC
2nd Place – Integrity Concrete Coatings
3rd Place – Elm Street Realtors

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Open post by sycamorepumpkinfestival with ID 18088012145499454
2025 Pumpkin Parade Award Winners Best of Parade Communities by Grainger Best Use of Theme Ideal Industries, Inc. Wally Thurow Crowd Pleaser Award Children’s Community Theater Organization Awards 1st Place – Dimensions Dance Academy 2nd Place – Tails Humane Society 3rd Place – DeKalb County Marines #847 Non-Commercial Awards 1st Place – Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County 2nd Place – United Methodist Church of Sycamore 3rd Place – St John’s Lutheran Church Neighborhood/Family Awards 1st Place – Barbed Wire Jeeps 2nd Place – Sycamore Pumpkin Chuckin’ Trebuchet Commercial Awards 1st Place – PBK Mechanical Services LLC 2nd Place – Integrity Concrete Coatings 3rd Place – Elm Street Realtors

🎶2025 Pumpkin Parade Band Awards

Junior Division (Middle Schools)
1st Place – Huntley/Clinton Rosette Middle School
2nd Place – Kaneland Harter Middle School
3rd Place – St. Mary’s Dekalb

High School – Class 1
1st Place – West Aurora Blackhawk Band
2nd Place – Central High School Marching Rockets

High School – Class 2
1st Place – Plano HS Marching Band

High School – Class 3
1st Place – Hiawatha High School
2nd Place – Forreston Marching Redbirds
3rd Place – Somonauk Marching Bobcats

Best Drum Major
Somonauk Marching Bobcats

Best Percussion Unit
West Aurora Blackhawk Band

Best Auxiliary Units
West Aurora Blackhawk Band

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Open post by sycamorepumpkinfestival with ID 18062578115146155
🎶2025 Pumpkin Parade Band Awards Junior Division (Middle Schools) 1st Place – Huntley/Clinton Rosette Middle School 2nd Place – Kaneland Harter Middle School 3rd Place – St. Mary’s Dekalb High School – Class 1 1st Place – West Aurora Blackhawk Band 2nd Place – Central High School Marching Rockets High School – Class 2 1st Place – Plano HS Marching Band High School – Class 3 1st Place – Hiawatha High School 2nd Place – Forreston Marching Redbirds 3rd Place – Somonauk Marching Bobcats Best Drum Major Somonauk Marching Bobcats Best Percussion Unit West Aurora Blackhawk Band Best Auxiliary Units West Aurora Blackhawk Band

🍭IT’S PARADE DAY! 🍫

🥳 This year’s Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Parade will have … CANDY! 🍬 So bring your bags, buckets, and pillowcases to collect your treats 🛍️

Every unit participating has agreed to follow the safety guidelines that require them to have walkers with their parade unit along the parade route to get the candy to the chalk line. NO THROWING, NO TOSSING from vehicles!

We ask that everyone please monitor the young ones around you so that they stay behind the chalk line in the street and do not step out into the parade route.

The City of Sycamore and our committee hope that this will make it a safe and enjoyable new part of our festival! 🧡

#PumpkinParadeCandy
#SycamorePumpkinFestival #SycamorePumpkinFest #PumpkinsGoToTheMovies #CityOfSycamore #SycamoreIL #FallFestival #Pumpkins #MostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear

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Open post by sycamorepumpkinfestival with ID 18056996495541747
🍭IT’S PARADE DAY! 🍫 🥳 This year’s Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Parade will have … CANDY! 🍬 So bring your bags, buckets, and pillowcases to collect your treats 🛍️ Every unit participating has agreed to follow the safety guidelines that require them to have walkers with their parade unit along the parade route to get the candy to the chalk line. NO THROWING, NO TOSSING from vehicles! We ask that everyone please monitor the young ones around you so that they stay behind the chalk line in the street and do not step out into the parade route. The City of Sycamore and our committee hope that this will make it a safe and enjoyable new part of our festival! 🧡 #PumpkinParadeCandy #SycamorePumpkinFestival #SycamorePumpkinFest #PumpkinsGoToTheMovies #CityOfSycamore #SycamoreIL #FallFestival #Pumpkins #MostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear

🎃 2025 Lions Club Pumpkin Contest Winners 🧡

Pick of the Patch
Sonja Flater

#SycamorePumpkinFestival #SycamorePumpkinFest #PumpkinsGoToTheMovies #CityOfSycamore #SycamoreIL #FallFestival #Pumpkins #MostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear

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Open post by sycamorepumpkinfestival with ID 18003991379658253
🎃 2025 Lions Club Pumpkin Contest Winners 🧡 Pick of the Patch Sonja Flater #SycamorePumpkinFestival #SycamorePumpkinFest #PumpkinsGoToTheMovies #CityOfSycamore #SycamoreIL #FallFestival #Pumpkins #MostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear

🎃 2025 Lions Club Pumpkin Contest Winners 🧡

President’s Award
Lisa Mayntz / Bill Blipy

#SycamorePumpkinFestival #SycamorePumpkinFest #PumpkinsGoToTheMovies #CityOfSycamore #SycamoreIL #FallFestival #Pumpkins #MostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear

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Open post by sycamorepumpkinfestival with ID 17864941194481014
🎃 2025 Lions Club Pumpkin Contest Winners 🧡 President’s Award Lisa Mayntz / Bill Blipy #SycamorePumpkinFestival #SycamorePumpkinFest #PumpkinsGoToTheMovies #CityOfSycamore #SycamoreIL #FallFestival #Pumpkins #MostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear